DISTRICT PLAN – LISTED HERITAGE PLACE
HERITAGE ASSESSMENT – STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
HERITAGE ITEM NUMBER 1009
COMMERCIAL BUILDING/DWELLING AND SETTING, FORMER
PENINSULA GENERAL STORE – 40 RUE LAVAUD, AKAROA
PHOTOGRAPH: SIMON DAISLEY, 2013
HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE
Historical and social values that demonstrate or are associated with: a particular person,
group, organisation, institution, event, phase or activity; the continuity and/or change of a
phase or activity; social, historical, traditional, economic, political or other patterns.
The former Peninsula General Store has historical and social significance due to its
association over several decades with the Vangioni family. It was built in 1878 when Joseph
Vangioni (1835-1921), an Italian immigrant, set up the Peninsula. He became a successful
cheese and cocksfoot dealer, adding to the original building in late 1881. Around 1890
Vangioni had a new house built at the rear of his commercial building facing the recreation
ground. This was used as a shop temporarily in early 1892 while the alterations to the
commercial part of the building were underway. By late 1892 Vangioni had completed the
building and the store was once again operating from its Rue Lavaud premises. In addition to
his storekeeping, Vangioni was also a contractor, building roads and bridges around the
district. He served on the Akaroa Borough Council for many years and he and his wife Julia
(died 1916) had 11 children. Joseph Vangioni, operated the store until his retirement in 1903,
when his son Louis took over the business. The building was sold in 1926 but continued to
operate as a store. The current owner purchased the building in 1994 and it has continued in
mixed commercial and residential use up to the present day. Since 2006 part of the building
has been home to a trattoria and bar called Vangionis.
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CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Cultural and spiritual values that demonstrate or are associated with the distinctive
characteristics of a way of life, philosophy, tradition, religion, or other belief, including: the
symbolic or commemorative value of the place; significance to Tangata Whenua; and/or
associations with an identifiable group and esteemed by this group for its cultural values.
The former Peninsula General Store has cultural significance as a demonstration of the
typical colonial way of life of combined business premises and living quarters, and has
operated continuously for over 130 years. The story of Pompey the Penguin, who was
‘adopted’ by Louis Vangioni in 1904 and became a major visitor attraction in the village, is
esteemed by the community as part of Akaroa’s identity.
ARCHITECTURAL AND AESTHETIC SIGNIFICANCE
Architectural and aesthetic values that demonstrate or are associated with: a particular style,
period or designer, design values, form, scale, colour, texture and material of the place.
The former Peninsula General Store has architectural and aesthetic significance as a
colonial vernacular rendition of an Italianate style building. The classical influences include
modillions under the eaves, a hipped roof and rusticated weatherboards. Research to date
suggests that the original 1877 building was extensively altered in 1891/2. Having begun as
a simple colonial commercial building it was extended in 1881 by which time it was a double
gabled one and half storey building. In 1891/2 the building was completely altered or largely
rebuilt, into a two-storey building which combined living and commercial premises. The
veranda was a later addition, with the Rue Lavaud section pre-dating that overlooking Rue
Brittan. Renovations since the early 1970s have seen the building altered in terms of its
arrangement of commercial and residential use. This has created smaller separate
commercial spaces and individual flats. A single storey extension was built to the south of the
original building in 1989. Despite these alterations the building has retained its general form
and style with the 1892 building still clearly evident.
TECHNOLOGICAL AND CRAFTSMANSHIP SIGNIFICANCE
Technological and craftsmanship values that demonstrate or are associated with: the nature
and use of materials, finishes and/or technological or constructional methods which were
innovative, or of notable quality for the period.
The former Peninsula General Store has technological and craftsmanship significance as an
example of the building materials and methods of the time, as well as the additive nature of
many 19 th century vernacular buildings. Its construction, materials and detailing evidence the
period in which it was built.
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CONTEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Contextual values that demonstrate or are associated with: a relationship to the environment
(constructed and natural), a landscape, setting, group, precinct or streetscape; a degree of
consistency in terms of type, scale, form, materials, texture, colour, style and/or detail;
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recognised landmarks and landscape which are recognised and contribute to the unique
identity of the environment.
The former Peninsula General Store and its setting have high contextual significance as part
of a group of 19 th century heritage buildings in Rue Lavaud including churches and other
timber commercial buildings. 40 Rue Lavaud has particular landmark significance due to its
scale and prominent corner site on the town’s main road, opposite the open space of the
recreation ground. The setting consists of the land parcel which includes the building to the
front of the roadway on Rue Lavaud and Rue Brittan and a rear yard area.
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE
Archaeological or scientific values that demonstrate or are associated with: the potential to
provide information through physical or scientific evidence an understanding about social
historical, cultural, spiritual, technological or other values of past events, activities, structures
or people.
The former Peninsula General Store and its setting have archaeological significance
because of the potential to provide archaeological evidence relating to construction methods
and materials, and human activity on the site, including that which occurred prior to 1900.
ASSESSMENT STATEMENT
The former Peninsula General Store has overall significance to Banks Peninsula and
Christchurch. The building has historical due to its association with two generations of the
Vangioni family, who established a general store on the site in 1878. The building has
cultural significance because it demonstrates the typical colonial way of life of combined
business premises and living quarters, has operated continuously for over 130 years, and is
associated with Pompey the Penguin – a notable Akaroa ‘character’ in the early 20 th century.
The former Peninsula General Store has architectural significance as a late 19th century
colonial building with some elements of classical Italianate styling. The former Peninsula
General Store has technological and craftsmanship significance as an example of the
building materials and methods of the time, as well as the additive nature of many 19 th
century vernacular buildings.
The building and its setting has high contextual significance as part of a group of listed 19 th
century commercial buildings and as a local landmark due to its prominent corner site and
proximity to the open space of the recreation ground. The building and its setting has
archaeological significance in view of the date at which development first occurred on this
property.
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REFERENCES:
Christchurch City Council Heritage File 40 Rue Lavaud
Vangionis Trattoria & Bar. http://www.vangionis.co.nz/history.html May 2014
Simon Daisley Background Information Listed Heritage Building, 40 Rue Lavaud, 2013.
‘Pompey the Penguin’: http://digitalnz.org.nz/user_sets/503a95d0125757739200110e
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REPORT DATED:
25 FEBRUARY, 2015
PLEASE NOTE THIS ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THE TIME
OF WRITING. DUE TO THE ONGOING NATURE OF HERITAGE RESEARCH, FUTURE
REASSESSMENT OF THIS HERITAGE ITEM MAY BE NECESSARY TO REFLECT ANY
CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF ITS HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE.
PLEASE USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CCC HERITAGE FILES.
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